Monthly Archives: January 2013

When General Motors engineers and designers started work on the next-generation Corvette, they drew up the usual requirements for the star of American muscle cars.

Killer looks. Big engine. Handles like a race car.

But topping the list back was something at odds with the roar of the car’s big V-8: Gas mileage.

The new Corvette could not be a gas guzzler. Stricter government rules were forcing a leap in fuel economy. If the car burned too much gas, it would trigger fines from regulators and never get built.

“There won’t be a Corvette if we don’t care about fuel economy,” said Tadge Juechter, the car’s chief engineer.

But the 2014 Corvette is here, the first all-new version in nine years. The king of American sports cars, driven by astronauts and celebrated in a Prince song, rolled out Sunday night in Detroit. It will arrive in showrooms this fall.

To many fans, the new Corvette symbolizes the rebirth of America’s auto industry after its near death in 2009, showing the world that it again can lead in technology, styling and performance — at a lower cost that European competitors.

Getting there was tough for the 1,000-member Corvette team, which gave the car the code name “C7.” GM’s bankruptcy slowed development twice. With each delay, new safety and gas mileage regulations forced changes. The Corvette team overhauled the car: aluminum replaced steel, super-light rivets held parts together, and the V-8 engine kicked down to four cylinders at highway speeds, saving fuel.

All the changes helped it overcome nine years of government crash safety requirements that could have bloated the car. But even with the lighter materials, the regulations have pushed its weight to a little more than the current base model’s 3,200 pounds. Still, it’s an engineering achievement. The Corvette is so new that it only shares two parts with the current model.

GM said testing is still being done on the car’s fuel economy, but it’ll be better than the current base model’s 16 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway. Juechter said the window sticker highway mileage won’t reach 30 mpg, but he wouldn’t be surprised to see some drivers get that or more.

The car’s usual buyers — men in their mid-50s — will also notice dramatic changes on the outside of the two-seat car. The hood slopes low to slice through the wind. All the vents and scoops have functional purposes like cooling the brakes or transmission.

On the back, designers took cues from the1963 Corvette, with a sloping roof that tapers toward the bottom. The car has a small Stingray badge on each side, complete with gills. And there’s a more modern rendition of the Corvette’s crossed-flag logo.

A 6.2-liter small-block V-8 with 450 horsepower takes the car from zero to 60 mph in under four seconds. That’s at least a few tenths of a second faster than the current base model.

Engineers also redesigned the somewhat-chintzy interior, giving it a jet cockpit look with leather, carbon fiber and soft plastics.

GM hopes the styling, performance and updated dashboard electronics will expand the car’s appeal to younger buyers. The Corvette’s been a favorite of adrenaline junkies for 60 years. Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard owned one from the first year — 1953.

The company won’t quote a price on the 2014 model. But Juechter said someone who bought the current version can afford the new one. The Corvette starts at $49,600. That is more than $30,000 below what GM considers its chief competitor, the Porsche 911. The car makes a decent profit for GM despite relatively low sales, Juechter said.

GM wouldn’t give sales targets for the new car. Last year it sold only 14,000 of the aging Corvettes, down from over 30,000 the first few years after the current version was rolled out. Porsche sold about 8,500 911s last year.

The prospect of a new ‘Vette has fans waiting anxiously, browsing the Internet for unauthorized photos or drawings. Thousands of aficionados live in the U.S., and even Europe and the Middle East.

John Browning, 70, president of the Renegade Corvette Club of Hollywood, Fla., one of 600 such clubs in the U.S, said some Corvette lovers can’t contain themselves.

“I’ve got one member, he just sold his ’13 in anticipation, to wait for the ’14,” said Browning. “I think the Corvette is the icon. As far as I’m concerned you can’t get a better deal.”

With so many car parts dealers competing in the market, choosing the one which meets your needs can be a challenge. According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), there are a few quite reputable dealers of used auto parts. If you purchase from such a dealer, you would get quality-tested car parts at low prices. Moreover, you don’t need to compromise on the efficiency and functionality of the components, but how will you ensure that the used auto parts retailer you are dealing is reliable? Well, you have to consider a number of factors such as the reputation, equipment that the retailer have and the promptness in responding to your needs.

How to search and select?

Today, the majority of reputable companies have official websites. This is to extend their businesses to a wider audience and reach their target market. According to car parts experts, the best and the most convenient tool to locate reliable car parts dealer is the Internet. Buyers can use various keywords or key phrases to run a search. For instance, if you are living in Dallas, you can use key phrases such as “car parts Dallas, TX“, “auto parts dealers Dallas, TX,” and “Dallas auto parts retailers.” Generally, there are thousands of sources that appear in the search results. Examples of car parts websites are AutoPartsWarehouse.com, iSeeCars.com, and AdvancedAutoParts.com, all of which carry parts from the major manufacturers. However, it’s better to choose the dealers’ websites that have a better ranking in the search engines. Choose two or more websites and visit those. This provides you a better insight to the experience and status of each retailer. You can also check the status of those dealers with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to avoid scams. Narrow down your search based on how quick the dealer responds to your calls and queries. It also very important to compare the rates by asking quotes from two or more dealers.

What if you don’t get the required components?

There are times when you fail to find the required auto parts in the directory of an otherwise reputable dealer. Generally, reliable used car parts dealers have a large listing where you can find various car components. However, in case you cannot find the ones you need, the dealer should be able to assist you to find the parts. A reliable company has efficient parts finder tools or systems through which the agents or customer assistants are able to find the car components you need within seconds. Hence, you should not waste your time and money finding for car parts yourself. Not only will they will search for the best and affordable parts for you, but will also deliver the product to your doorstep, intact and economically.